Constipation in Intensive Care

Effect of Abdominal Massage on the Occurrence of Constipation among Critically Ill Ventilated Patients at Intensive Care Unit

“…In this regard the current study noted that sedation and delayed enteral feeding after 48 hours were the most common disorders among both groups that had severe constipation. Similarly Guerra et al (2016) (2) showed that the incidence of constipation was increased in patients receiving sedative and vasopressor medication. Also our results revealed that one third of patients who received delayed enteral feeding after 48 hours had severe constipation.…”

“…The reported incidence of this problem in the general population is between 2% and 25%, with the increased incidence in the critically ill patients to be between 16% and 83% (1) . Multiple studies defined constipation as a failure to pass stool within 72 hours of admission to the Intensive care Unit (ICU) (2,3) . Risk factors of constipation in critical care unit include confinement to bed neuromuscular blocking agents, use of opioids and sedatives, vasopressors, electrolytic disorders, immobility, increased severity of disease, lack of fluids administration, and decreased fiber in enteral nutrition and fiber-free enteral diets that are recommended for critically ill patients at high risk of intestinal problems (4,5) .…”